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Beltran HR keys Cards’ rout of Pirates in Game 1

Carlos Beltran, right, is congratulated in the dugout by teammates after hitting a three-run home run against the Pittsburgh Pirates in the third inning of Game 1 of baseball’s National League division series on Thursday, Oct. 3, 2013, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

ST. LOUIS (AP) – Carlos Beltran’s three-run homer sparked a seven-run third inning and the St. Louis Cardinals got seven stingy innings from Adam Wainwright, delivering a reality jolt to the Pittsburgh Pirates with a 9-1 rout Thursday in their NL division series opener.

The first eight Cardinals reached safely in the third to chase A.J. Burnett, saddling the right-hander with the second-shortest outing of his career and putting Game 1 out of reach early. A sellout crowd roared early and then settled in for an easy victory.

The Pirates ended a 21-year postseason drought and entered their first division series with apparent momentum after beating the Reds in the wild-card game Tuesday. But they never threatened to rally against the Cardinals’ ace.